An external-cavity (EC) quantum cascade (QC) laser using optical feedback from a partial-reflector is reported. With this configuration, the otherwise multi-mode emission of a Fabry-Perot QC laser was made single-mode with optical output powers exceeding 40 mW. A mode-hop free tuning range of 2.46 cm-1 was achieved by synchronously tuning the EC length and QC laser current. The linewidth of the partial-reflector EC-QC laser was measured for integration times from 100 µs to 4 s, and compared to a distributed feedback QC laser. Linewidths as small as 480 kHz were recorded for the EC-QC laser
Revised: February 7, 2011 |
Published: November 30, 2010
Citation
Cendejas R.A., M.C. Phillips, T.L. Myers, and M.S. Taubman. 2010.Single-mode, narrow-linewidth external cavity quantum cascade laser through optical feedback from a partial-reflector.Optics Express 18, no. 25:26037-26045.PNNL-SA-74726.doi:10.1364/OE.18.026037